246. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for further detail on a consumer's ability to register as vulnerability, based on a situation (details supplied) where a utility company did not provide this opportunity to customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59342/26]

The heat sector, as it currently stands, is for the most part unregulated and requires a regulatory framework for heat networks to be put in place. The Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 has been developed to achieve this outcome by, among other things, appointing the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as regulator for heat networks with responsibility for ensuring consumer protection for the sector.

The Heat Bill will introduce consumer protections for existing and new district heating, and communal heating customers including placing a requirement, in line with existing requirements in the electricity and gas sectors, on entities supplying heat to consumers to establish a register of vulnerable customers. The CRU will also be provided with a range of sanctions to pursue heat undertakings that fail to comply with regulatory requirements placed upon them.

Following extensive engagement with stakeholders, Government recently approved necessary revisions designed to strengthen a number of the Heads contained in the Bill. Officials from my Department continue to actively engage with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, my Department's own Legal Unit, and external stakeholders in order to progress the legislation towards enactment.